Today’s Connections puzzle is a challenging one. Read on for hints and today’s Connections answers.

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Sing out.

Green group hint: Part of it.

Blue group hint: Relative words.

Purple group hint: History.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Musical performance.

Green group: Participant.

Blue group: Family relationship modifiers.

Purple group: Descriptors for our human ancestors.

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is musical performance.

The four answers are concert, gig, set and show.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is participant.

The four answers are actor, agent, party and player.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is family relationship modifiers.

The four answers are grand, great, half and step.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is descriptors for our human ancestors.

The four answers are from Neander, handy, upright and wise.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

See full bio